Utah Trip

We got to go to Utah this month!!!  We always love going of course!  This trip was quite a bit different than usual but we still had a great time together.  We bought our tickets long long ago in anticipation of my sister's wedding.  One day before we flew out, she called to tell us the wedding was postponed.  Lots of mixed emotions but we were proud of her for her decision.  We were super bummed that we're now going to have to miss her wedding when it happens later on.  If only we had a money tree....ha.  That's all I'll say about that. 

 So we got on a plane with our two little munchkins and headed to Utah!! 

 Sadie and Peyton did so well!  The kindle that Eric had bought a couple months ago was a godsend.  Peyton just watched episodes of Mickey Mouse and Curious George the whole time.  Sadie is such a little go getter so it was just exhausting keeping her down.  They didn't cry much and it was great!  We pulled in to Whitney and Ben's house at 4 am eastern time which was killing us but we survived.

 Since Zach and Lacey are both at my mom's house now, we stayed with Whitney so we wouldn't have to kick anyone out of their bedrooms.  Whitney was sooo great!  We chilled, talked, watched The Voice, laughed, babysat, etc.  It was great being there.

 Tyler and Peyton cracked me up soooo much.  Overall they did well together, of course they had their moments but i'm so grateful for these times to build memories with their cousins. 

 Jamie came over a bit to chill out with us!!!!  Lydia is such a cutie!

 This is the view from my parent's backyard!  Lucky them!!!!!!! huh?  I soak these mountains up when we visit!

 Driving through town in our sweet rental car.... windows down and radio cranked!!!!!!  You have not lived until you've done that in Cache Valley!

 A quick trip to Carl's Jr. for some lunch!  The boys love that play place!

 Mmmmmm, veggies.That's right Sadie..... continue saying that.... all. your. life!!!

 My dad's chicken coops!  Peyton loves visiting the chickens... and ended up getting pecked while trying to feed them some grain.  Didn't deter him though.  So on a completly different note.... I blame my dad 100%........less than a week after we got back from Utah, Eric made a trip to Lowe's and returned with complete materials to build his own coop! 

 Bath time for the boys!!!  Tyler loved going crazy and splashing left and right which would make Peyton wail because he hates water on his face.  So it was a bit of a zoo.... but oh so fun!  Love how different their little personalities are~!!

 Walking to church..... only in Utah.  Then we came home to DRIVING 45 minutes to church! ugghhh

 We tried the jump zone again this trip!  It was successful!!!  We had gone there when we visited Utah in December and that's when Peyton had gotten hurt New Year's Eve.  So jump zone this time minus a trip to the E.R.

 Eric loved it!  He loved doing tricks and stunts into this pile of foam!!!!

 Here's our spectators!!!!

 Such good grandparents!!!  Love these guys!!!  Hurts my heart knowing how far away we live!  Sure miss those folks!

 We got to go to Clay's baptism which was wonderful!  We saw the rest of the extended family there including Lindsay who had just gotten off her mission the previous week!!!

 We celebrated Lydia's two year birthday one evening!  You know I love a good party!  We ate some ridiculously good food.  It's slightly absurd how wonderful the food is when we visit!!

 After all of our adventures winded down we jumped back on a plane and headed back to PA.

And the kids were exhausted......... THE END!

Just kidding!  We really did have a wonderful time!  I got to do a legit photo shoot while I was there.... my very first shoot that I actually made money.  That was a good feeling.  I love love loved staying with Whitney and Ben and was soooooo grateful for their hospitality and company.  But it was a little bittersweet because I really missed being at mom and dad's.  There is just something about staying at someone's house that gives you time and memories that you can't have any other way.   Maybe we'll just start rotating while we're there.  Stay a couple nights at each of their houses.  Hoping to go back sooon!!!!!

Mothers

I'm so grateful to be a mom!!!  My two little ones are my everything. 

Even before I was a mom, I've been so grateful for the nurturing traits needed in mothering, Heavenly Father has blessed me with.  I remeber very vividly a mother's day when we were so dissappointed that we still were not pregnant with our first.  At the end of sacrament meeting the bishop invited all women 18 and older to stand until they'd been given a gift.  I felt so conspicuous and unworthy of a gift.  For pete's sake, I didn't have kids yet.  As I've pondered that day I realize how wrong I was.  I was a primary teacher at the time and in my way I was mothering those children.  Everytime Eric and I would enter the chapel, 3 of my little kids would run over to me with a huge hug.  We were usually flanked with a couple of them throughout the whole meeting. 

There are so many other instances that come to mind about "mothering" over the years!!   Bottom line is, on this mother's day I feel so darn blessed and grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for the opportunity to mother.  To nurture, comfort, provide service.   And I feel especially grateful to now be mom of two little babes.  I love them with all my heart! 

Peyton changed my whole world the day we found out we were expecting!  All I've ever wanted was to have kids.  I'd spend my days studying parenting articles and books.  Going through baby clothes over and over again.  And just imagining what it would be like to have him in my arms.  After 9 long months I must say that parenting wasn't exactly what I'd envisioned but it's better.  It's definitely not as easy and black and white as I once thought which I'm so grateful for.  My kids make me grow each day.  They make me a better person! 

My Sadie has brought such spunk and light to our family!  She's our little peanut!  I love her like crazy!  Peyton brings a tenderness to our family!  They are both soooo great!